Chapter 81 The Best Child
In the aftermath of the storm, Chuanye City gradually regained its vitality.
The lights in the tall buildings of the city center, far from the Tennouin mansion, flickered back to life.
It seems that the rescue plan, executed by Maki and the hunters working together, was extremely successful.
The citizens, who had been hiding indoors, finally summoned the courage to sneak a look outside after the storm.
The light spilling from the windows illuminated the streets, brightening the muddy roads left by the rain.
The air was filled with the freshness that followed the rain, and a gentle breeze carrying a hint of coolness brushed past, causing the puddles on the streets to ripple slightly.
The cool wind after the rain swept over the devastated courtyard of the Tennouin mansion, filling the area with traces of the battle that had occurred.
Among them, the figures of Nagi and Tennouin Chiko squatting on the ground were particularly eye-catching.
The breeze gently caressed Nagi’s face, lifting her long, dark hair; a few strands fell over her eyes, obscuring her expression.
Tennouin Chiko slowly sat up from Nagi’s embrace, her crimson star-like eyes flickering in the dim light, gradually moving away from the Nagi in front of her to survey her surroundings.
She quietly gazed at the devastated courtyard, memories flooding into her mind like a tide.
Tennouin Chiko gradually regained the memories she held during her time spent occupying her own body.
Everything she had done, the memories possessed by the body of Amakusa, and the fragments of memories left by the End had slowly surfaced in her mind with the restoration of her consciousness.
Once again, this world revealed its truest face to her.
Rituals, offerings, monsters, superhumans, extraordinary disasters… these memories were as clear as that rainy night many years ago.
Her only child at the time had exhibited incomprehensible extraordinary powers in front of her.
Killing those men who boarded the island one by one right in front of her—
As this thought crossed her mind, Tennouin Chiko looked at her blood-stained hands and the crimson marks on her slender arms that even the torrential rain could not wash away.
This was not her body.
It was the body of her daughter, “Tennouin Amakusa.”
She had occupied her body.
The memory of Munehiro collapsing in front of her flashed through her mind.
As well as the tall men and young women she had trapped in the basement, toying with and torturing them.
And that star hovering high in the night sky, turning the entire city into a hell—
“This is not your doing.” Nagi, noticing her movements, spoke out to interrupt her thoughts, her tone firm.
Chiko was momentarily taken aback, turning to look at the black-haired girl beside her, and then revealing a gentle smile.
“Indeed, Mikou, you are such a kind child…”
Why didn’t I realize it back then? Tennouin’s lips moved slightly, softly adding.
“…..You have the wrong person.”
“Is that so…..” Tennouin Chiko blinked with a wry smile, the star-like eyes in her gaze flickering faintly.
The authority of the stars.
It was something fabricated through the ritual of the stars.
Though a fabricated authority, it still possessed similar powers.
“Mikou, I never expected to have the chance to see you again…” Tennouin Chiko gazed at the “soul” in front of her with her crimson star-like eyes.
Her gaze softened, as if it were the most sincere love and regret of a mother for her child.
“Since you left….. I realized that you were the one who kept protecting everyone on the island…..”
Chiko looked up, gazing at the faintly flickering red star in the night sky, as if reminiscing about the past.
“It was you who protected that child on that day, saving the entire island and saving me….. yet I spoke such harsh words to you…..”
Her voice was low and slow, as though these words had brewed for over a decade.
Once again, she softly apologized: “I’m sorry, Mikou…”
Each word seemed immensely solemn, reflecting the years of accumulated regret and remorse deep within her heart.
After Mikou left, Chiko had dreamt every night before sleeping that the next day, she would open her eyes to see her son return home.
So she could apologize to him.
Even if she couldn’t gain forgiveness, at least he would know that there was a place in this world that always welcomed him.
That he was not alone in this world, and that he had a place to belong.
But day after day.
Month after month.
Year after year.
Until one day, what Chiko ultimately received was the news of Mikou’s death.
She thought she had completely lost the opportunity to apologize to him.
But unexpectedly.
The two who should have already died.
Would reunite again at this moment in such an absurd way.
For a brief moment.
Tennouin Chiko felt a bit grateful to the Stars Council.
Because of them, she had the chance to see her grown daughter with her own eyes.
She had the opportunity to meet her child once again after death and to apologize to him—
Looking at the black-haired girl in front of her with flowing hair, though no longer the silent black-haired boy from her memories.
That kind heart, and those gentle yet determined eyes.
Made her understand that this girl before her was indeed her former child.
She had countless words she wanted to narrate to her child.
But now, at this moment.
All those words gradually turned into a multitude of apologies.
Until the girl who suddenly dove into her embrace interrupted her apologies.
“I’m sorry, Mother… It’s all my fault…”
The moment she heard the other party refer to her as “Mother.”
Tennouin Chiko suddenly felt a warm current flowing through her heart, and a tender smile involuntarily appeared on her face.
“Mikou, at this point… can I still be your mother?”
“…..” Nagi remained silent, not replying, but only tightened her embrace around the girl in front of her.
In front of the first person she saw in her first life.
In front of the reconciliation she thought was impossible to achieve.
Nagi revealed her vulnerable side.
“Mikou, are you happy now?”
After Chiko finished speaking, she suddenly let out a self-deprecating laugh.
“I’m sorry….. I really asked a foolish question…”
While gently running her fingers through Nagi’s smooth long hair, she spoke softly.
Through the memories constantly flooding into her mind, she saw her child’s current life.
Now, “Mikou” was a well-loved honor student, never lacking caring family and friends around her.
The investigation that Tennouin Amakusa once carried out on Nagi had now answered the questions in Tennouin Chiko’s heart and resolved her years of mental burdens.
And at that moment.
The red star in the sky began to slowly descend.
The star-like eyes in Tennouin Chiko’s gaze showed signs of breaking apart at that moment.
Nagi keenly sensed this.
“If I can find a way…” Nagi struggled to break free from her “mother’s” embrace.
But the latter held her tightly.
“The ritual of the stars mimics the authority of the stars.”
“So as long as we replicate this ritual, the soul can continue to resonate—”
“Enough….. Mikou, I am already very satisfied.” Tennouin Chiko read her child’s thoughts and interrupted.
She hugged Nagi tightly, gently brushing her delicate hair.
“No, Mother, what are you saying, my son is an S-class savior…”
“Yes, I know, because Mikou has always been my best child.”
“Ah, so resurrecting you or something… is very simple…”
“I am already satisfied, not only to see Amakusa grow up, but also to receive Mikou’s forgiveness.”
“…..”
“Amakusa, can I ask you for one more thing?”
“…..Hmm.”
“Can I ask you to… definitely find your happiness… no matter what… don’t give up.”
